Iranians are celebrating the birth anniversary of the Twelfth and last Shia Imam, Imam Mahdi (PBUH), at their homes amid a ban on outdoor festivities and the closure of religious centers due to a deadly coronavirus pandemic.

Every year, millions of Shia Muslim pilgrims from Iran and other countries converge at holy shrines and mosques — especially Jamkaran Mosque near the holy city of Qom — to celebrate the event.

They also attend passionate eulogies and distributed votive refreshments.

Every year, millions of Shia Muslim pilgrims from Iran and other countries converge at holy shrines and mosques — especially Jamkaran Mosque near the holy city of Qom — to celebrate the event.

They also attend passionate eulogies and distributed votive refreshments.

He commands special respect among Shia Muslims, who believe he will someday reappear on earth as per divine decree, establish peace and rid the world of injustice, discrimination, and other instances of evil.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei is set to deliver an address to the nation later in the day on the occasion of the birthday anniversary, a national holiday in Iran.